AAAU vs. IAU
Compare and contrast key facts about Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU).
AAAU and IAU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. AAAU is a passively managed fund by Goldman Sachs that tracks the performance of the LBMA Gold PM Price. It was launched on Jul 26, 2018. IAU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Gold Bullion. It was launched on Jan 28, 2005. Both AAAU and IAU are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: AAAU or IAU.
Performance
AAAU vs. IAU - Performance Comparison
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with AAAU having a 27.46% return and IAU slightly lower at 27.44%.
AAAU
27.46%
-3.20%
8.55%
32.92%
12.29%
N/A
IAU
27.44%
-3.17%
8.56%
32.89%
12.31%
7.97%
Key characteristics
| AAAU | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.22 | 2.20 |
| Sortino Ratio | 2.97 | 2.94 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.39 | 1.38 |
| Calmar Ratio | 4.03 | 4.02 |
| Martin Ratio | 13.19 | 13.12 |
| Ulcer Index | 2.48% | 2.49% |
| Daily Std Dev | 14.72% | 14.84% |
| Max Drawdown | -21.63% | -45.14% |
| Current Drawdown | -5.55% | -5.53% |
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AAAU vs. IAU - Expense Ratio Comparison
AAAU has a 0.18% expense ratio, which is lower than IAU's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Correlation
The correlation between AAAU and IAU is 0.99, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
AAAU vs. IAU - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Dividends
AAAU vs. IAU - Dividend Comparison
Neither AAAU nor IAU has paid dividends to shareholders.
Drawdowns
AAAU vs. IAU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AAAU drawdown since its inception was -21.63%, smaller than the maximum IAU drawdown of -45.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AAAU and IAU. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
AAAU vs. IAU - Volatility Comparison
Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) and iShares Gold Trust (IAU) have volatilities of 5.67% and 5.76%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.